Automobile floor and toe board and the like



Oct. 25, 1932. w, s, VRQQMAN 1,884,415

AUTOMOBILE FLOOR AND TOE BOARD AND THE LIKE Fi led Nov. 8, 1930 1 1/5772'4015 Woo/71am A TTORNEYS.

Patented Oct. 25, 1932 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE WILLIAM S. VROOMAN, 0F CLEVELAND, OHIO, ASSIGNOR TO THE PAINE AND WILLIAMS COMPANY, OF CLEVELAND, OHIO, A. CORPORATION OF OHIO AUTOMOBILE FLOOR AND TOE BOARD AND THE LIKE Application filed November 8, 1930. Serial No. 494,303.

This invention, as indicated, relates to automobile fioor and toe boards, and the like. More particularly it comprises a floor board formed of a thin plate, preferably of thin steel provided with ribs to combine strength with light weight, said plate supporting immediately on the upper side thereof, a heat and noise insulating, and shock cushioning material such as felt, saw dust, celotex, or a wide variety of materials having insulating and cushioning characteristics, and such material is preferably held in place by a rubber mat. The rubber mat may be positioned by suitable connection with the supporting plate as by vulcanizing, cementing, or by a tight friction fit.

Much of the noiseand drumming sound noticed in automobiles at the higher speeds is due to the sounding board effects of the floor toe boards which, by their special construction, are insulated against noise and heat, and are cushioned against shock and vibrat1on.

Other objects and features of the invention will appear in the course of the following.

description. To the accomplishment of the foregoing and related ends, said invention, then, consists of the means hereinafter fully described and particularly pointed out in the claims.

The annexed drawing and the following description set forth in detail certain'structure embodying the invention, such disclosed means constituting, however, but several of various structural forms in which the principle of the invention may be used.

In said annexed drawing:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view partially in section showing one section of floor or toe board embodying the principles of the invention; Fig. 2 is a perspective view of a sheet metal floor board folded along longitudinal lines at spaced intervals to provide a substantially flat u per surface with a series of parallel longitudinal ribs on its under side; Fig. 3 is a transverse sectional view showing one complete floor or toe board having downwardly extending reinforcing ribs and flanges, and its relation to an adjacent board of like construction; Fig. 4 is a transverse sectional view of a modified form of floor board construction wherein the supporting plate is free of flanges or strengthening ribs; Fig. 5 is a transverse sectional view showing another modified form of floor board in which the supporting plate has upwardly extending flanges at its front and rearward edges and downwardly extending reinforcing ribs; Fig. 6 is a fragmentary sectional View showing the board in relation to an end supporting frame member; and Fig. 7 is a view sim lar to Fig. '3, showing the engagement of the ribs and flanges with a supporting frame member.

As has been indicated, the improved floor or toe board has a supporting member in the form of a thin plate, preferably of steel. This plate 1 may take theform, shown in Figs. 1, 2,3, 6 and 7 wherein the metal sheet is formed with downwardly extending marginal flanges 2, 3 and intermediate spaced parallel downwardly extending ribs 4. The ribs may be integrally formed in the sheet as illustrated by folding operations or may be provided. by other methods as may be found desirable in quantity production operations.

The supporting plate may be an unmodified sheet of metal5, as shown in Fig. 4, or may be a plate 6, downwardly extendin ribs 7,

and upwardly extending marginal anges 8, I

9, as shown in Fig. 5. g

In each instance the metal plate is preferably covered by a noise and heat insulating and vibration absorbing or cushioning material. 11, such, for example, as felt, saw dust,

celotex, or any other material having such characteristics.

This insulating and cushioning material preferably in the form of a sheet or blanket is placed on the upper sides of the supporting plate and held in position thereon by the top covering of the structure which preferably is in the form of a rubber mat 12. This mat is preferably formed with wide solid rubber downwardly extending portions 13 at each of lateral margins, as .is shown in Figs. 1 and 6, the upper surface being beveled to a relatively thin edge 14 and the flat under side resting in part on the supporting metal plate 1, and in part on the supporting lateral frame member 15 of the automobile upon which the end of the plate rests, the frame member being suitably notched to receive the ribs and flanges, as shown in Figs. 6 and 7. While such solid lateral enlargements in many instances are desirable, they may be omitted and a top covering of the uniform thickness may be provided extending to the extreme lateral margins of the floor space.

The front and rearward edges of the mat may take slightly different forms to fit the respective metal plates and to permit the body of the mat to be spaced a sufficient distance from the plate to permit the insulating and cushioning material to be placed between the mat and the plate while keeping the central portion of the top surface of the mat as a smooth flat surface.

Thus, for use-with the first form of plate, the mat is provided with downwardly extending flanges 16 at its front and rearward margins, the lower edges 17 of saidflanges being cupped so as to engage around the corresponding flanges of the metal plate 1. As the meeting line of two floor boards or of a floor board with a toe board, the upper surface of one of the mats may be provided with an extension, which may take'various forms, but is shown as a rounded rib 18 formed integrally with'the mat, and projecting for one-half its width outwardly, so as to overlap the adjacent edge of the next board and form a closed joint therewith which will also serve as a heatand noise-proof seal as. well as to keep out dust or moisture.

The only modification of, the mat structure for the plain supporting plate 5, shown in Fig. 4, is to form the flanges 19 thereof, of less depth and of greater thickness, and to omit the cupping of the inward extensions of the free edges 20 of the flanges.

The flanges 21 of the mat for the other type of supporting plate 6, shown in Fig. 5, may likewise be of less depth than those of the form first described, and the inturned free edges 22 thereof may be of very small extent as the upwardly extending flanges 8, 9, of the supporting plate serve to confine the heatand noise-insulating material, and the anchoringefi'ect of the inturned edges of the mat flanges is not as essential as in the other forms of construction, and particularly where the straight unmodified plate is used, as shown in Fi 4.

The flanges of the mat in each of the constructions described will closely grip the margins of the plates and hold the elements of the structure in rigid position. but such flanges and the lateral enlargements of the'mat may be joined to the plate by cement, or the like, or may be vulcanized to the supporting plates.

Other modes of applying the principle of my invention may be employed instead of the one explained, change being made as regards the structure herein disclosed, provided the means stated by any of the following claims or the equivalent of such stated means be employed.

I therefore particularly point out and distinctly claim as my invention:

1. An article of the character described having in combination a supporting plate formed of thin sheet metal folded upon itself to provide a series of spaced parallel longitudinal ribs on the under side thereof and having marginal flanges, a top member of rubber composition having a thin body portion and depending lateral flanges and end enlargements, an insulating and cushioning member between said supporting plate and said top member, and means for securing said flanges in firm engagement with the flanges of said supporting plate, said end enlargements serving to space said top member from said plate adjacent the ends.

2. An article of the character described having in combination a supporting plate formed of thin sheet metal folded upon itself to provide-a series of spaced parallel longitudinal ribs on the under side thereof and having marginal flanges, a top member of rubber composition having a thin body portion with integral enlargements on the undersides at each of its ends, and depending lateral flanges integrally united with said enlargements, and an intermediate insulating and cushioning member, said enlargements serving to space said top member from said plate adjacent its ends, and said flanges serving to secure said member in firm engagement with said plate.

Signed by me, this 31st day of October,

WILLIAM S. VROOMAN. 

